Infant&#39;s folding bath stand and dressing table



y 1941- w. c. BAXTEREF AL 2,249,107

INFANT'S FOLDING BATH STAND AND DRESSING TABIQE FiledfJu l-y 11, 1940 3 Shuts-Sheet 1 July 15, 1941.- w. c. BAXTER EIAL 2,249,107

iNF fiT's FOLDING BATH STAND AND DRESIN TABLE s-sheets-shet 2 Filed July 11; 1940 July 15, 1941.- w. c. BAXTER ET AL 2,249,107 INFANT'S FOLDING BATH STAND AND DRESSING TABLE Filed July 11 1940 a ;Shee ts-Sheet 5 INVENTO mm aza'z BY Mag-$226 I as ATTORNEY.

Patented July 15, 1941 DRESSING William C. Baxter and Charles De ray, ester, N. Y., assign ors to T'rimlile Nurseryland Furniture, Inc., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 11, 1940, Serial No. 344,8t2

Claims.

This invention relates to an infantsfolding bath stand and dressing table of the general type including a collapsible or foldable tub and a dressing table positionable either over the tub or away from the tub to permit access to the latter,

and it has for one of its objects to afford a structure of this general character that isadapted for convenient use in connection with the conventional stationary bathroom tub.

Heretofore many folding bath stands have been designed to be supported entirely within a stationary tub, but such structures are objectionabl'e'because the infants tub and dressing table are located over the stationary tub and within the vertical plane of the side wall thereof, making it inconvenient and difficult for a mother to bathe and dress an infant, since the wall of the stationary tub prevents her standing as close to the infants tub and dressing table as comfort and convenience requires, audit is an object of this invention to afford a construction supported partially within a stationary tub so that the infants tub can be readily filled and drained therein, but also supported partially on the floor adjacent to the stationary tub, thus permitting the collapsible tub and dressingtable to extend over the wall of the stationary tub to a point beyond the vertical plane thereof so that the mother can stand close to the'infants tub and dressing table without coming in contact with the wall of the stationary tub.

'A further purpose of the invention is to afford an arrangement of foldable support that will straddle the wall of a stationary tub, permitting one leg frame to be located within the tub and one leg frame to be supported on the floor adjacent to the stationary tub, with suitable relative adjustment of the leg frames to compensate for 'the difference in levels of the tub bottom and the floor adjacent to the tub as well as the pitch of the tub bottom, the collapsible tub being suitably mounted between one of the leg frames and a tub supporting frame connected thereto.

A further object of the invention is to afford a simple and practical operating means for elevating and lowering the dressing table which is pivotally mounted to-swing about the rear of the tub, such operating means being so constructed as to permit foot control of the dressing table for either raising or lowering the same, without interfering with the wall of the stationary tub when the support is straddling thelatter.

Still a further purpose of the invention isto provide simple and efficient .counterbalancing means for the dressing table and one of the leg and retard its foldingaction.

frames whereby a single spring unit'may'serve to hold the dressing table in its uppermost position, also to retard its 'loweringnmovement, and to holdthe leg frame in its outermost position Another object of the invention is ;to afford, in connection with .a foldable support and tub supporting frame; a foldable utility shelf of practical arrangementand designed so as to accom modatein any position the, hose connection; by which thetub can be filled or drained.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the-construction and arrangement of parts that will appear from. the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the novel features being pointed out in the claims following the specification.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a View in end elevation of a structure made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention showing the foldable support extended with one leg frame positioned withina stationary tub that appears in section; the collapsible tub supporting frame being unfolded withtlie infants tub in operating position; and the dressing table in elevatedor vertical position permitting access to the tub;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the dressing table in its lowered or operating position;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation; Y -Fig'. 4 is a horizontal sectionaliview taken ap proximately on the line 4-4 .of Fig.2;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a view in end elevation showingthe support, tub frame, and dressing table in folded position and with one foldable l'egframe retracted. slightly from its folded position by it controlling spring, and

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view on the line 'l"! of Fig. '6.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in .In the construction illustrated, 3 designates leg frame 3 and to be attached pivotally thereto. v

In order to compensate for the different levels of the bottom I of the tub and. the adjacent floor and the pitch of the tub bottom, the leg frame 4 is adjustably connected to the leg frame 3, preferably by slotting the legs of the leg frame3 as indicated at 6 and securing the hinge member by means of a suitable bolt and adjustablewing nut 1 that can be tightened to maintain the leg frame in the desired position ofvertical adjustment, see Fig. '7, or with one leg of the leg frame higher than the other, while 8 designate washers located between the bolt-securing means and the adjacent sides of the legs to permit a relative folding of the leg frames when collapsing the support.

The leg frame 4 is connected to the leg frame 3 at such a point as to afford space between the two leg frames sufficiently to accommodate the wall of the stationary tub, see Fig. 1, and the leg frame 4 can readily be adjusted for height so as to accommodate itself to any required level of tub bottom in relation to the adjacent floor on which the other leg frame rests. By.constructing the stand in this fashion, it is possible tohave the infants tub in position over the wall of the stationary tub so that it can be conveniently filled from the stationary tub faucets or emptied into the stationary tub when the babys bath is completed. At the same time the tub, and dressing table to be described presently, are supported with their front edges sufficiently far in front of the stationary tub so that the person attending the infant may occupy a position close to the infants tub and dressing table without contacting the wall of the stationary tub, as is thecase where such a folding stand'is positioned with both leg frames inside the stationary tub. Con sequently, with this arrangement it is possible to bathe or dress an infant without having to lean over and occupy an uncomfortable and awkward position to reach the infant in the tub or on the stand, as is required where the stand is entirely within the stationary tub and somewhat behind the vertical plane occupied by the side wall of the tub.

The collapsible tub, which may be of rubber or other suitable flexible material, is designated at H and supported between a cross rail at the top of the leg frame 3 and a corresponding cross rail at the top of a tub supporting frame l2, which is pivotally supported on the leg frame 3 by means of sheet metal hinge members 13 secured tothe lower ends of the members of the tub supporting frame l2 and pivoted to the legs of the leg frame 3 at l3. The tub may be collapsed and the tub supporting frame [2 folded against the leg frame 3 as shown in Fig. 6, and when in open position, the frame and tub are prevented from partial collapsing by means of toggle links [4 pivotally connected at a central point and in turn connected to the members of the tub supporting frame at l5 and to the legs of the leg frame 3 at IB, see Fig. 1.

I! designates a dressing'table comprising a and article rack including a wire frame 22 that rectangular frame with a canvas covering, as usual in this class of construction, and carrying brackets 18 which are pivoted at I9 to the upper ends of the legs of the leg frame 3, whereby the dressing table may swing to a horizontal operative position as shown in Fig. 2, to a vertical position as shown in Fig. l, or to the collapsed position shown in Fig. 6, in which it serves to hold the tub supporting frame folded against the leg frame, while 2| designates the usual guard is pivoted to the legs of the leg frame 3 at their upper ends, and adapted to occupy a vertical operative position at the rear of the dressing table I1, as shown in Fig. 2, or to fold downwardly parallel thereto as indicated in Fig. 6. In order to operate the dressing table to either its vertical or horizontal positions when the tub is in use, there is provided a treadle pivoted to one of the legs of the leg frame 3 at 23, see Fig. 1, and including a foot-engaging portion 24 at its forward end. A second foot-engaging portion 25 is arranged at the rear of the treadle and may be in the form of a separate lug suitably attached thereto. Connecting the rear end of the treadle with the rear edge of the. dressing table is an operating rod that is bent at a point intermediate its ends, affording a vertically extending portion 2 6, see Fig. 1, and. an upwardly and rearwardly extending portion 21, the upper end of which is connected to the dressing table at a point adjacent its rear edge, while the lower end of the portion 26 of the operating rod is connected to the rear of the treadlepreferably at a point in vertical alinement with the foot-engaging portion 25. With this arrangement, when the dressing table is in the position shown in Fig. 1, it is readily lowered by engaging and depressing the forward portion 24 of the treadle, thereby swinging upwardly the rear portion of the treadle and operating rod, and causing an upward movement of the rear edge of the dressing table from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2. To reverse the movement of the dressing table just described, the foot portion 25, see Fig. 2, is engaged and pushed downwardly, and during the resulting movements of the operating rod, the bent portion intermediate its ends is such as to clear the side wall of the stationary tub and permit the necessary movements without interference.

,21 designates a coil spring connected at its upper end to the rear edge of the dressing table l'l"andcon'nected at its lower end to one of the legs of the leg frame 4. This spring performs several functions, in that it tends to hold the dressing table in its vertical position as shown in Fig. 1, it retardsor cushions the downward movement of the dressing table from the position shown in Fig. 1 to thatshown in Fig. 2, and when the leg frame 4 is in folded or collapsed position, it tends to hold the latter slightly away from the leg frame 3, as shown in Fig. 6, and'acts to move the leg frame 4 readily to its open position shown in Fig-2 as the leg frame 3 is tilted from its vertical position illustrated in Fig. 6 to its operating position illustrated in Fig. 2.

Thus the spring 21 tends to swing the leg frame 4 outwardly to its operating position, thus assisting in setting up the supportwhen it is desired to unfold the stand and use the tub and dressing table. The leg frame 4 can be folded into complete parallel relation with the leg frame 3 for collapsing and packing, but when released, assumes the position shown in Fig. 6 under the action of spring 21, and by tilting the upper part of the leg frame 3 to the right with reference to Fig. '6, the leg frame 4 swings laterally until it assumes the position shown in Fig. 2, and the support can then be lifted and lowered into position with the leg frame straddling the side wall of the tub as shown in Fig. 1. The dressingtable ll is next swung from its collapsed position as in Fig.

'ble upwardly as shown in Fig. 6, suitable stop means being provided to limit its upward movement, and is provided in its bottom 33 with an opening 34 preferably centrally thereof and adjacent to its rear edge, to accommodate the hose 35 that is connected with the tub and extends through the opening 34, below which it is provided with the branches 36 and 31 leading to the filling and shower connections, as usual in such devices. a

With this arrangement, the hose 35, which is connected with the bottom ofthe tub, extends directly downwardly as shown in Fig. 1, without interfering in any way with the use of the shelf 3|, and the latter can be folded to its upper position, as shown in Fig. 6, when the stand is to be collapsed, without disturbing the hose 35 or requiring that it be disconnected. This affords an efficient and convenient arrangement and protects the hose against undue wear or breaking. The shower and filling connections at the ends of the hose branches 36 and 31 are supported when not in use in suitable pockets for the purpose, formed in the wire supporting unit 38 which is pivotally supported between the members of the tub frame l2 and foldable from the operative position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to a collapsed position when the parts are unfolded as in Fig. 6.

While the invention has been described with reference to the details of construction herein disclosed, it is not limited to this particular arrangement, and the application is intended to cover any modifications or departures coming within the purposes of the improvements or the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In an infants folding bath stand, the combination with a foldable support comprising pivotally connected leg frames positionable respectively on the bottom of a stationary tub and on the floor adjacent to the tub, the space between the leg frames beneath their pivotal connection being sufficient when unfolded to straddle the wall of the stationary tub, and a foldable bath tub mounted on said support and positionable above said wall of the stationary tub when in operative position.

2'. In an infants folding bath stand, the combination with a foldable support comprising pivotally connected leg frames positionable respectively on the bottom of a stationary tub and on the floor adjacent to the tub, the space between the leg frames beneath their pivotal connection being sufficient when unfolded to straddle the wall of a stationary tub, a foldable bath tub mounted on said support and positionable above said wall of the stationary tub when in operative position, and means for adjusting one of said leg frames to" compensate-for thedifference between the respective levels: of-the floor and tub bottom and the pitch of the tub bottom.

3. In an infants folding bath stand, the combination with a foldable support comprising leg frames positionable respectively on the bottom of a stationary tub and on the floor adjacent to the'tub, a tub supporting frame-pivotally mounted on one of said leg frames, and a collapsible tub secured between saidleg frame and said tub supporting frame.

'4.- Inan infants folding bath stand, the cornbination with a foldable support" comprising leg frames positionable respectively on the bottom of a stationary tub and on the floor adjacent to the tub,atub supporting frame pivotally mounted on one of said leg frames, a collapsible tub secured between said leg frame and said tub supporting frame,-and means for adjusting one of said leg frames to compensate for the difference between the respective levels of the floor and tub bottom and the pitch of the tub bottom.

1 5. In an infants folding bath stand, the combination with a fo-ldable support adapted to straddle a wall of a stationary tub and comprising a leg frame positionable on the floor adjacent to said tub, a second leg frame pivotally connected to-the first mentioned leg frame and positionable on the bottom of said stationary tub,

a tub supporting framepivotally mounted on the first mentioned leg frame, a collapsible tub securedbetween said first mentioned leg frame'and said 'tub supporting frame, and means for adjusting one of said leg frames to compensate for the difference between the respective levels of the floor and tub bottom and the pitch of the tub bottom.

6. In an infants foldin bath stand, the combottom of said stationary tub and pivotally con- 7 nected at its upper end to the first mentioned leg frame, said second leg frame being adjustable to compensate for the difference between the respective levels of the floor and tub bottom and the pitch of the tub bottom, a tub supporting frame pivoted at its lower end to the first mentioned leg frame, and a collapsible tub secured between the upper ends of said first mentioned leg frame and said tub supporting frame.

'7. In an infants folding bath stand, the combination with a foldable support adapted to straddle a Wall of a stationary tub comprising a leg frame positionable on the floor adjacent to said tub, a second leg frame positionable on the bottom of said stationary tub and pivotally connected at its upper .end to the first mentioned le frame, said second leg frame being adjustable to compensate for the difference between the respective levels of the floor and tub bottom and the pitch of the tub bottom, a tub supporting frame pivoted at its lower end to the first mentioned leg frame, a collapsible tub secured between the upper ends of said first mentioned leg frame and said tub supporting frame, a shelf pivoted to said first mentioned leg frame and supportable when in horizontal position on said tub 8. In an infants folding bath stand, the combination with a foldable support adapted to straddle the wall of a stationary tub comprising a leg frame positionable on the fioor adjacent to said tub, a second leg frame positionable on the bottom of said tuband pivotally connected at its upper end to the first mentioned leg frame, a tub supporting frame pivoted at its lower end to the first. mentioned leg frame, a collapsible tub secured between the upper ends of said first mentioned leg frame and said tub supporting frame, a dressing table pivotally mounted at the upper end of the first mentioned leg frame, and. a coil spring connecting the rear of the dressing table with said second leg frameand acting to counterbalance both the dressing table and said second leg frame. I

9. In an infants folding loath stand, the combination with a foldable support adapted to straddle the wall of a stationary tub comprising a leg frame positionable on the floor adjacent to said tub, a second leg frame positionable on the bottom of said tub and pivotally connected at its upper end tothe first mentioned leg frame, a tub supporting frame pivoted at its lower end to the first mentioned leg frame, a collapsible tub secured between the upper ends of said first mentioned leg frame and said tub supporting frame, a dressing table pivotally mounted at the upper end of the first mentioned leg frame, means for raising and lowering said dressing table including a foot lever pivoted to the first mentioned leg frame, a rod connecting said foot lever with the dressing table, and foot-engaging means at opposite ends of said foot lever for elevating and lowering the dressing table respectively, whereby the foot lever is in substantial alinement with the first mentioned leg frame when the parts are folded.

10. In an infant's folding bath stand, the combination with a foldable support adapted to straddle the wall of a stationary tub comprising a leg frame positionable on the floor adjacent to said tub, a second leg frame positionable on the bottom of said .tub and pivotally connected at its upper end to the first mentioned leg frame, a tub supporting frame pivoted at its lower end to the first mentioned leg frame, a collapsible tub secured between the upper ends of said first mentioned leg frame and said tub supporting frame, a dressing table pivotally mounted at the upper end of the first mentioned leg frame, means for raising and lowering said dressing table including a foot lever pivoted to the first mentioned leg frame, a rod connecting said foot lever With the dressing table, and foot-engaging means at the opposite ends of said foot lever for elevating and lowering the dressing table respectively, said rod being bent at a point intermediate its ends to accommodate said Wall of the stationary tub when the support straddles the latter whereby the foot lever is in substantial alinement with the first mentioned leg framewhen the parts are folded.

WILLIAM C. BAXTER. CHARLES T. DE PUY. 

